Definition of 'hall'
Word forms: plural halls
1. countable noun
2. countable noun
A hall in a building is a long passage with doors into rooms on both sides of it.
[mainly US]regional note: in BRIT, use hallway3. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A hall is a large room or building which is used for public events such as concerts, exhibitions, and meetings.
5. countable noun
If students live in halls in British English, in hall or in a hall in American English, they live in a university or college building called a hall of residence.
6. countable noun
7. noun, in names
Hall is sometimes used as part of the name of a large building, especially one where public events or concerts take place
8. See also entrance hall, music hall
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
hall
hall in British English
noun
4.
5.
a residential building, esp in a university; hall of residence
7.
the large room of a house, castle, etc
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English heall; related to Old Norse höll, Old High German halla hall, Latin cela cell1, Old Irish cuile cellar, Sanskrit śālā hut; see hellHall in British English
noun
1.
2.
Sir John. 1824–1907, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister of New Zealand (1879–82)
3.
Sir Peter. 1930–2017, English stage director: director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1960–73) and of the National Theatre (1973–88)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Hall in American English
hall in American English
noun
1. Obsolete
a.
b.
the dwelling itself
3. [sometimes H-]
a building containing public offices or the headquarters of an organization, for transacting business, holding meetings, etc.
4.
6.
a passageway or room between the entrance and the interior of a building; vestibule, foyer, or lobby
7.
a passageway or area onto which rooms open; hallway
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME halle < OE heall (akin to Ger halle), lit., that which is covered < base of helan, to cover < IE base *kel-, to cover > hell, L celare, to conceal
hall in American English
(hɔl)
noun
1.
a corridor or passageway in a building
2.
the large entrance room of a house or building; vestibule; lobby
4.
a large building for residence, instruction, or other purposes, at a college or university
5.
a college at a university
6. (in English colleges)
a.
a large room in which the members and students dine
b.
dinner in such a room
9.
the chief room in a medieval castle or similar structure, used for eating, sleeping, and entertaining
10.
the castle, house, or similar structure of a medieval chieftain or noble
11. Southeastern U.S. old-fashioned
the living room or family room of a house
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME; OE heall; c. ON hǫll, G Halle; akin to OE helan to cover, hide, L cēlāre to hide ( see conceal)]hall in Hospitality
(hɔl)
Word forms: (regular plural) halls
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Hotel facilities)
A hall in a building is a long passage with doors into rooms on both sides of it.
There are ten rooms along each hall.
The lights were on in the hall and in the guest bedrooms.
Your room is the last door at the right side of the hall.
COBUILD Key Words for Hospitality. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'hall' in a sentence
hall
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Word lists with
hall
Places of entertainment, homeQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which type of home am I?
a house attached to a farm, esp the dwelling from which the farm is managed
Which type of home am I?
a flat with one main room
Which type of home am I?
any dwelling of the Native Americans, esp one made of bark, rushes, or skins spread over or enclosed by a set of arched poles lashed together
Your score:
Trends of
hall
View usage for:
In other languages
hall
British English: hall
/hɔːl/ NOUN
In a house or flat, the hall is the area just inside the front door.
The lights were on in the hall.
- American English: hall /ˈhɔl/
- Arabic: قاعَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: saguão
- Chinese: 大厅
- Croatian: predvorje
- Czech: předsíň
- Danish: entré rum
- Dutch: hal
- European Spanish: vestíbulo
- Finnish: eteinen
- French: hall
- German: Korridor
- Greek: προθάλαμος
- Italian: sala
- Japanese: 入口の廊下
- Korean: 홀
- Norwegian: entré
- Polish: sala
- European Portuguese: átrio
- Romanian: hol
- Russian: прихожая
- Latin American Spanish: vestíbulo
- Swedish: samlingssal
- Thai: ห้องโถง
- Turkish: salon
- Ukrainian: зала
- Vietnamese: đại sảnh
Browse alphabetically
hall
Source
Definition of hall from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
threw or through?
Which version is correct?
bail or bale?
Which version is correct?
born or borne?
Which version is correct?
weak or week?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
week
weak
I had a letter from my mother last .
elicit or illicit?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
god game
a computer roleplaying game in which the player controls the destiny of one or more avatars within a large virtual environment
9 new words in Collins Dictionary
There is a scientific bent to 9 new words added to the Collins Online Dictionary, including three types of 'blot' tests, and words relating to electric vehicles.
Read more
Brush up on your Latin this Back to School
With the UK running a pilot study into teaching Latin in state schools, we look at common Latin phrases still in use today.
Read more
A little bird told me… 7 animal idioms
It’s new words time at Collins Dictionary and this month we see the addition of words like fingerling, net zero and emotional support animal. This month, there were a few animal-related additions.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
yoke or yolk?
Which version is correct?
broach or brooch?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
broach
brooch
It was difficult to the subject with him.
hole or whole?
Which version is correct?
blew or blue?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
blue
blew
She fixed her pale eyes on her father's.
rang or rung?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
rang
rung
He me at my mother's.
Your score: